Charles learned



vUNITED STATES PATENT oFFICE,

CHARLES LEARND, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all whom t may concern.' v

Be it known that I, CHARLES LEARNnm of Indianapolis, in the county'ofMarion and State of Indiana, have invented a new `and usefulv Machinefor Vashing Clothes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the annexed drawings of the same,making part of this specification, of which- Figure l is a perspectiveview showing the several parts in connection, Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal section Fig. 3 is a top view of the upper side of the boxand end of the upper brush, showing the spring for giving longitudinalmotion to the same.

The nature of my invention and improvement consists in mounting in arectangular, or other formed wash box, or tub, three re volvingcylindrical brushes and a revolving rest, between which brushes theclothes are caused to pass and by the action of which, combined with thecleansing eil'ect of the soap and water, the dirtiest clothes arequickly cleaned.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

The box A, is of rectangular form, made of boards, and of any convenientdimensions, in its bottom a transverse depression, or cavity A Fig. 2 ismade, within which the under side of the lower brushes R R2 revolve,these brushes are placed in this recess in order -that they may beconstantly dipped in the suds. The mud andl grit all collect in thisrecess, and is withdrawn by removing the spigot or plug A2 from the endthereof, when it runs out along with the water in which it is held insuspension by the agitation produced by the revolving of the brushes.The box is supported on legs a a a a to which the treadle B is securedin any convenient, or suitable manner; this treadle is for the purposeof actuating the j machine by manual force applied to it by the foot ofthe operator; the treadle is connected with the crank C in the usualmanner, by a rod Dgupon the crank shaft, the balance wheel E and pulleyF are mounted, the former to give steadiness and continuity of motion tothe moving parts, the latter to re volve the brushes by means of thecross band G, which passes around the pulley H; the latter being securedupon the end 01"' the axis of the upper brush R3 which by means of thecross band g, Fig. 2, is connected with 5,802; dated septemberae, 1s4s.

and turns the lower brushes. In addition to its rotary motion the upperbrush has a reciprocatng longitudinal Vmotionv which is produced by thestuds, or tappets r r r r r -r l (affixed to the face of the pulley H)coming successively into contact with the inclined protuberance s,.whichforces the brush in a fdirection from the samev through .a space equalto the distance which said protuberance s projects within the plane ofthe extremities of the studs r, when not in Contact with theprotuberance; the brush is constantly pressed toward this inclinedprotuberance by the tension of the spring t Fig. 3, so that when thetappets, or studs which move the brush in one direction are disengagedfrom the inclined protuberance, the brush instantly moves back again inthe opposite direction, to be in posit-ion for the next stud to act;thus, the alternate action of the spring and tappets keeps the brush inAa'rapid reciprocating longitudinal motion, by which the bristles arecaused to enter every fold, a gentle abrasion of every part of thesurface of the cloth is y produced which effectually removes the dirtalmost as soon as the clothes have entered between the rollers; in thisway clothes are cleaned with much less damage to their texture and areotherwise less injured, than when subjected to the action of the rubbingmachine.

The brushes are composed ofwooden cylinders the periphery of which isarmed with rows of bristles secured thereon in the same manner in whichthey are secured in common brushes, these cylinders turn on suitablegudgeons, or journals, supported upon suitable bearings formed in orsecured to the sides of the box, these brushes severally turn in thedirection indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. The upper brush may be heldat any fixed distance above the lower brushes by a spring set screw, orotherwise.

Immediately in front of the brushes, the revolving rest s is mounted `onsuitable'bearings secured to the sides of the box; this roller-iscomposed of a cylindrical piece of wood having gudgeons projecting ateach end on which it rests on said bearings.

The operation of the machine so far as it has not already been explainedis asfollows, a suitable quantity of soap' and water is placed in thetub, and the clothes to be' machine being now put in motion, theoperator spreads a garment .on the rest, allowingV it to overhang alittle, when `the brushes in.- stantly seize and draw it between themlthe part of the cloth first passing between the rollers is allowed toremain there, until it is cleaned, when another portion of it is allowedto be drawn in to be acted upon, thus the garment is cleaned insuccessive portions as it is allowed to pass gradually through betweenthe rollers. Once passing through between the rollers is suliicient toclean any piece of cloth however dirtyas the mud, or grit accumulatesyin the depression in the bottom of the boXJ or `the suds become dirty,they are from time to time withdrawn by removing the spigot, or plug A?.p

' What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by'Letters Patentis- The combination and arrangement of the revolving brushes R R2 with,the revolving and vibrating brush R3 in the manner and for the purposeherein described.

n In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in presence of twosubscribing witnesses this twenty second day of Octoberl847. Y.

CHARLES LEARNED. Witnesses:

.ISAIAH- MANSUR, PETER H. WATSON.

